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“Okay. Whatever you want. But listen, I will get older… someday.” “Explain.” He patted the tree. I glowered for a second, but then sat; my temper had burned out as suddenly as it had flared and I’d calmed down enough to realize that I was making a fool of myself.
I took a deep breath. “Sorry. Age is a touchy subject for me. That hit a nerve.” Jacob’s eyes tightened, and he looked as if he were trying to decide how to word something.
bella i cant with you girl
Have you ever heard of imprinting?”
Werewolves are unstable, Edward had said. The people near them get hurt.
“Well, weirdly enough, that was sort of how they resolved things. Sam was so horrified, so sickened by himself, so full of hate for what he’d done.… He would have thrown himself under a bus if it would have made her feel better. He might have anyway, just to escape what he’d done. He was shattered.… Then, somehow, she was the one comforting him, and after that.…”
“Hmm,” I said, trying to sound only politely interested. I was relieved, and I tried to explain my reaction to myself. I decided I was just glad he didn’t claim there was some mystical, wolfy connection between the two of us. Our relationship was confusing enough as it was. I didn’t need any more of the supernatural than I already had to deal with.
“I already knew there was something wrong with your brain,” Jacob muttered. “Thanks.”
“I was remembering that moronic movie you took me to. And Mike Newton puking all over everything.” I laughed, too, surprised by how time had changed the memory. It used to be one of stress, of confusion. So much had changed that night.… And now I could laugh. It was the last night Jacob and I had had before he’d learned the truth about his heritage. The last human memory. An oddly pleasant memory now. “I miss that,” Jacob said. “The way it used to be so easy… uncomplicated. I’m glad I’ve got a good memory.” He sighed.
“I was just thinking about you. Didn’t like that much, did he?” “Me? What about me?” Jacob laughed, with a harder edge this time. “I was remembering the way you looked that night Sam found you—I’ve seen it in his head, and it’s like I was there; that memory has always haunted Sam, you know. And then I remembered how you looked the first time you came to my place. I bet you don’t even realize what a mess you were then, Bella. It was weeks before you started to look human again. And I remembered how you always used to have your arms wrapped around yourself, trying to hold yourself together.…”
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His eyebrows pulled down over his eyes. “I don’t know when I’ll see you again,” he said in a hurt voice. “I’ll come back the next time he’s away,” I promised impulsively.
His eyes narrowed slightly. “But I am a werewolf,” he said unwillingly. “And he is a vampire,” he added with obvious revulsion. “And I’m a Virgo!” I shouted, exasperated.
He smiled at me, the warm, familiar smile that I had missed so much. I felt the answering smile spread across my face. “I’ve really missed you, Jake,” I admitted impulsively. “Me, too,” his smile widened. His eyes were happy and clear, free for once of the angry bitterness.
It came out of nowhere. One minute there was nothing but bright highway in my rearview mirror. The next minute, the sun was glinting off a silver Volvo right on my tail. “Aw, crap,” I whimpered.
I considered pulling over. But I was too much of a coward to face him right away. I’d been counting on some prep time… and having Charlie nearby as a buffer. At least that would force him to keep his voice down.
I was feeling a bit less panicked, able to breathe a little more evenly. It felt so ordinary here. Angela’s easy human dramas were oddly reassuring. It was nice to know that life was normal somewhere.
“Oh!” I gasped. Angela turned to look at me, apologies in her eyes. I could see why she’d been putting this off, and why Ben had weaseled out. “I thought you were exaggerating,” I admitted. “I wish. Are you sure you want to do this?” “Put me to work. I’ve got all day.”
“Is something wrong?” she asked in a low voice now. “You seem… anxious.” I smiled sheepishly. “Is it that obvious?” “Not really.” She was probably lying to make me feel better.
“Bella, I’ve seen how Jacob Black looks at you. I’d bet the real problem is jealousy.” “It’s not like that with Jacob.” “For you, maybe. But for Jacob…”
I cringed, waiting for the torrent, but it didn’t come. He just continued to glare, possibly too angry to speak. “Hi,” I finally said. His face could have been carved from stone. I counted to a hundred in my head, but there was no change. “Er… so, I’m still alive,” I began. A growl rumbled low in his chest, but his expression didn’t change. “No harm done,” I insisted with a shrug.
“Bella,” he whispered. “Do you have any idea how close I came to crossing the line today? To breaking the treaty and coming after you? Do you know what that would have meant?”
“You can’t!” I said too loudly. I worked to modulate the volume of my voice so Charlie wouldn’t hear, but I wanted to shout the words. “Edward, they’d use any excuse for a fight. They’d love that. You can’t ever break the rules!”
“Anxious is a bit of an understatement,” he murmured. “It was a very long day.” “You weren’t supposed to know about it,” I reminded him. “I thought you’d be hunting longer.” I looked up at his face, at his defensive eyes; I hadn’t noticed in the stress of the moment, but they were too dark. The rings under them were deep purple. I frowned in disapproval.
“But I didn’t,” he broke in. “And you can’t expect me to let you—” “Oh, yes, I can,” I interrupted him. “That’s exactly what I expect—” “This won’t happen again.” “That’s right! Because you’re not going to overreact next time.” “Because there isn’t going to be a next time.” “I understand when you have to leave, even if I don’t like it—” “That’s not the same. I’m not risking my life.” “Neither am I.” “Werewolves constitute a risk.” “I disagree.” “I’m not negotiating this, Bella.” “Neither am I.”
“Is this really just about my safety?” “What do you mean?” he demanded. “You aren’t…” Angela’s theory seemed sillier now than before. It was hard to finish the thought. “I mean, you know better than to be jealous, right?” He raised one eyebrow. “Do I?” “Be serious.” “Easily—there’s nothing remotely humorous about this.” I frowned suspiciously. “Or… is this something else altogether? Some vampires-and-werewolves-are-always-enemies nonsense? Is this just a testosterone-fueled—” His eyes blazed. “This is only about you. All I care is that you’re safe.”
“Well… don’t be offended, but you smell like a dog,” he told me. And then he smiled crookedly, so I knew the fight was over. For now.
And if he broke my truck again, then I’d have Jacob pick me up. Forks was neutral, just like Switzerland—just like me.
“All the boys went, and we’re having a slumber party!” she announced in a trilling, singsong voice. “A slumber party?” I repeated, the suspicion finally settling in. “Aren’t you excited?” she crowed. I met her animated gaze for a long second. “You’re kidnapping me, aren’t you?” She laughed and nodded. “Till Saturday. Esme cleared it with Charlie; you’re staying with me two nights, and I will drive you to and from school tomorrow.”
“Sorry,” Alice said, not sounding in the least bit penitent. “He paid me off.” “How?” I hissed through my teeth. “The Porsche. It’s exactly like the one I stole in Italy.” She sighed happily. “I’m not supposed to drive it around Forks, but if you want, we could see how long it takes to get from here to L.A.—I bet I could have you back by midnight.”
“He gave you that just for two days of holding me hostage?” Alice made a face. A second later, comprehension came and I gasped in horror. “It’s for every time he’s gone, isn’t it?” She nodded.
Alice did insist on the pedicure, and I wondered if she was working from a list—maybe something she’d compiled from watching bad sitcoms.
“Where am I supposed to sleep, anyway?” I measured the couch with my eyes. It was a little short. “Can’t you just keep me under surveillance at my house?” “What kind of a slumber party would that be?” Alice shook her head in exasperation. “You’re sleeping in Edward’s room.”
“I wasn’t going to call Charlie.” I frowned. “Apparently, I have some plans to cancel.” “Oh.” She deliberated. “I’m not sure about that.” “Alice!” I whined loudly. “C’mon!”
“Okay, okay,” she said, flitting from the room. She was back in half a second, cell phone in hand. “He didn’t specifically prohibit this…,” she murmured to herself as she handed it to me.
“You are in trouble,” I said slowly, emphasizing each word. “Enormous trouble. Angry grizzly bears are going to look tame next to what is waiting for you at home.” I snapped the phone shut and placed it in her waiting hand. “I’m done.” She grinned. “This hostage stuff is fun.”
“You didn’t really think he would make you sleep on the couch, did you?”
After my teeth were brushed and I was dressed, I grabbed a puffy feather pillow off the huge bed and dragged the gold cover to the couch. I knew I was being silly, but I didn’t care. Porsches as bribes and king-sized beds in houses where nobody slept—it was beyond irritating. I flipped off the lights and curled up on the sofa, wondering if I was too annoyed to sleep.
“It’s me,” Rosalie said softly, opening the door enough that I could see the silver glow touch her perfect face. “Can I come in?”
“Do you mind talking to me for a few minutes?” she asked. “I didn’t wake you or anything, did I?” Her eyes shifted to the stripped bed and back to my couch.
She laughed lightly, and it sounded like a chorus of bells. “He so rarely leaves you alone,” she said. “I figured I’d better make the best of this opportunity.” What did she want to say that couldn’t be said in front of Edward? My hands twisted and untwisted around the edge of the comforter.
“Would you like to hear my story, Bella? It doesn’t have a happy ending—but which of ours does? If we had happy endings, we’d all be under gravestones now.”
“I lived in a different world than you do, Bella. My human world was a much simpler place. It was nineteen thirty-three. I was eighteen, and I was beautiful. My life was perfect.”
“I knew what I wanted out of life, and there didn’t seem to be any way that I wouldn’t get exactly what I wanted. I wanted to be loved, to be adored. I wanted to have a huge, flowery wedding, where everyone in town would watch me walk down the aisle on my father’s arm and think I was the most beautiful thing they’d ever seen. Admiration was like air to me, Bella. I was silly and shallow, but I was content.”
That’s how his son, Royce King the Second”—her mouth twisted around the name, it came out through her teeth—“saw me the first time. He was going to take over at the bank, and so he began overseeing the different positions. Two days later, my mother conveniently forgot to send my father’s lunch to work with him. I remember being confused when she insisted that I wear my white organza and roll my hair up just to run over to the bank.” Rosalie laughed without humor.
This was everything they’d dreamed of. And Royce seemed to be everything I’d dreamed of. The fairy tale prince, come to make me a princess. Everything I wanted, yet it was still no more than I expected. We were engaged before I’d known him for two months.
Rosalie broke off suddenly, clenching her teeth together. It pulled me out of her story, and I realized that the horror was not far off. There would be no happy ending, as she’d promised.
He kissed her on the cheek when he thought I wasn’t looking. That bothered me. When Royce kissed me, it wasn’t quite the same—not so sweet somehow.… I shoved that thought aside. Royce was my prince. Someday, I would be queen.”
“It was dark in the streets, the lamps already on. I hadn’t realized how late it was.” She continued to whisper almost inaudibly. “It was cold, too. Very cold for late April. The wedding was only a week away, and I was worrying about the weather as I hurried home—I can remember that clearly. I remember every detail about that night. I clung to it so hard… in the beginning. I thought of nothing else. And so I remember this, when so many pleasant memories have faded away completely.…”
“I was a few streets from my house when I heard them. A cluster of men under a broken streetlamp, laughing too loud. Drunk. I wished I’d called my father to escort me home, but the way was so short, it seemed silly. And then he called my name.
“I hadn’t realized the drunks were so well dressed. It was Royce and some of his friends, sons of other rich men.
He looked me over like I was a horse he was buying.
